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Members of U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 102 and Sailors assigned to the “Sea Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 participate in a drug interdiction aboard the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11), Oct. 11, 2021. Sioux City is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Juel Foster/Released)

Nov. 21, 2021

Sioux City Conducts Back-to-Back Drug Busts in the Caribbean

CARIBBEAN SEA — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) with embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 102 seized over $49 million in suspected cocaine, Oct. 11-12, 2021.

SINT EUSTATIUS, Netherlands - (Nov. 16, 2021) -- Members of the rifle team on the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) conduct a 21-gun salute in honor of Statia Day, Nov. 16, 2021. Statia Day is a national holiday celebrated on the Caribbean island of Sint Eustatius. It celebrates the “first salute” when Sint Eustatius, locally known as Statia, became the first country to recognize the United States as a nation 245 years ago when after the U.S. declared independence, a Continental Navy ship fired a gun salute upon entering the harbor, and the island, by order of the Dutch governor, returned the salute. Sioux City is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Juel Foster/Released)

Nov. 18, 2021

USS Sioux City Celebrates Statia Day, Saluting American History

SINT EUSTATIUS, Netherlands — Sailors aboard the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) conducted a ceremonial 21-gun salute in celebration of Statia Day, off the coast of Sint Eustatius, Nov. 16.

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11), the Dominican Republic coastal patrol vessel Orion (GC 109), and Dominican Republic Boston Whaler interceptor Regulus (LI-165) participate a bilateral maritime interdiction exercise, Oct. 30, 2021.

Nov. 2, 2021

Sioux City and Dominican Republic Conduct Bilateral Maritime Interdiction Exercise

CARIBBEAN SEA — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) and the Dominican Republic Navy conducted a bilateral maritime interdiction exercise off the coast of Santo Domingo, Oct. 30.

he Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) transits the Caribbean Sea, July 10, 2021.

Oct. 30, 2021

USS Billings Returns Home After U.S. 4th Fleet Deployment

MAYPORT, Fla. — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) returned to Mayport, Fla. Oct. 30, following its successful maiden deployment to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations.

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) departs Naval Station Mayport for a deployment, Sept. 9, 2021.

Oct. 28, 2021

USS Sioux City Interdicts Over $20 Million Worth of Cocaine

CARIBBEAN SEA — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11), with embarked U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Detachment 102, interdicted over $20 million worth of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea, Sept. 19-20, 2021.

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15), participates in a photo exercise with the Dominican Republic navy coastal patrol vessel Canopus (CG 107), the special mission support U.S. Motor Vessel Kellie Chouest, Oct. 24, 2021.

Oct. 27, 2021

U.S. and Dominican Republic Conduct Bilateral Maritime Interdiction Exercise

MAYPORT, Fla. — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) and the Dominican Republic Navy conducted a bilateral maritime interdiction exercise off the coast of Santo Domingo, Oct. 24, 2021.

Sept. 27, 2021

UNITAS LXII Opening Ceremony Takes Place in Lima

LIMA, Peru — Naval and Marine forces from Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Spain, South Korea, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the United States gathered for the opening ceremony for UNITAS LXII, the longest running multinational maritime exercise, in Lima, Peru, Sept. 27.

The “Golden Eagles” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 9 participate in a tug-of-war competition against Ecuador during the in port events for UNITAS LXII 2021 at Callao Navy Base Sept. 25, 2021.

Sept. 26, 2021

UNITAS LXII Kicks off in Lima

LIMA, Peru — Naval and Marine forces from Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Peru, Spain, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and the United States kicked off UNITAS LXII, an annual multinational exercise, Sept. 24, in Lima, Peru.

Peruvian Navy Comandante Marco Antonio Montero Gallegos gives opening remarks during the closing ceremony for Silent Forces Exercise (SIFOREX) 2021 at Callao Naval Base, Sept. 24, 2021.

Sept. 26, 2021

U.S. 4th Fleet, Peru, Complete Multi-national Silent Forces Exercise

CALLAO, Peru — Silent Forces Exercise (SIFOREX) 2021 concluded with a closing ceremony taking place in Callao, Peru, Sept. 24.

he Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EPF-10) conducts a maritime interdiction exercise with Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard patrol ships TTS Carli Bay (CG 28) and TTS Scarborough (CG 42), Sept. 15, 2021.

Sept. 20, 2021

Burlington Builds Bonds in Trinidad and Tobago

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago — The Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Burlington (T-EPF-10) and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard conducted a maritime interdiction exercise, Sept. 15, following a three-day port visit to Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

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